A French international arrives in Caen thanks to Mbappé

Since his arrival as majority shareholder of Stade Malherbe de Caen, Kylian Mbappé has not hesitated to get involved in the club’s major decisions. Among them, the recruitment of a former French international, a choice which illustrates the ambition of the Madrid striker to strengthen the Normandy team with experienced profiles.

This player, known for his past with the French team and his solid experience abroad, joined the club in the summer of 2024. Behind this signing lies a personal initiative from the Real striker, determined to play an active role in the sporting management of the Malherbistes.

A decision directly influenced by Mbappé

The player in question is none other than Yann M’Vila. The former Blues midfielder, with 22 national team caps, was contacted directly by Mbappé to join the SM Caen project. “Kylian called me, he knows my level. He offered me an opportunity that I couldn’t refuse.” confided M’Vila in an interview with BeIN Sports.

After several years spent playing abroad and a difficult time in Russia, M’Vila saw this transfer as a chance to relaunch himself in France. Despite an injury which delayed his debut for Caen, the player is determined to contribute fully in the second half of the season.

Management under fire from critics

Although M’Vila’s arrival illustrates Mbappé’s sporting ambitions, other recent decisions have been widely criticized. The brutal ousting of Nicolas Seube, legendary figure of the club, to replace him with the Portuguese Bruno Baltazar, provoked indignation among some of the supporters and former members of the club.

Patrice Garande, former coach of SM Caen, did not hide his incomprehension: “We fire Nicolas Seube without respect, and we appoint a coach who has changed clubs every season. There is reason to be worried. » This controversial choice, added to the disappointing performances of the team, currently 16th in Ligue 2, increased the pressure on the club’s management.

Mbappé faces a major challenge

If Kylian Mbappé had promised to give new impetus to SM Caen, the results are slow to materialize. The arrival of Yann M’Vila, although promising, is not enough to calm criticism regarding the club’s sporting management.

Between decisions considered abrupt and lack of clarity in the long-term strategy, the project led by Mbappé is starting to divide. The coming months will be crucial to determine whether the majority shareholder will be able to transform its ambition into tangible results, or whether internal tensions will definitively slow down the progress of Stade Malherbe.